Bs 1 + 2 + 9

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Bs 1: What is Ecology?

unit 6 Ecology and Sustainability 

What is Ecology?

= The part of Biology concerning the relationships between organisms and their environment. 

biotic and abiotic factors

Environmental influences categorized into two groups:

• Biotic:

Influences from living nature (other organisms)

• Abiotic:

Influences that come from non-living aspects of nature. 

All the abiotic factors together in an area is called a biotope.

The levels of Ecology

You can investigate:

1. The relation between an individual and its environment.

2. A population is a group of individuals of the same species in a specific area. 

3. Populations of different species in the same area -> community.

4. An ecosystem: a specific area in which biotic and abiotic factors form a unit. 

Feeding relationships within an ecosystem

• Herbivores (plant eaters)

• Omnivores (eat plants + meat)

• Carnivores (eat meat)

The animals in the picture they eat each other.. they form a food chain.

Food chains and food webs

A food chain is a series of organisms in which each organism is the food source for the next.

First link = plant species. 

Second link = herbivore.

Third link = carnivore. 

Ecosystems contain multiple food chains that are interrelated. They make up a network -> food web. 

Plants provide the food for other animals, they are producers (first link)

Animals eat (consume) the plants. They are consumers. 

Producers -> primary consumers -> secondary consumers etc. 

Not all plants and animals get eaten.. they can also simply die. Scavengers will use remains. 

The remains left by the scavengers are broken down by fungi and bacteria -> decomposers. 

Decomposers convert remains into Carbon dioxide, minerals and water. These substances can be used again by plants. 

Think of photosynthesis:

Water + light + CO2 -> Glucose + O2

<- nutrient cycle. 

Some organisms don't need other organisms as food. Some organisms can make their own food. We call them autotroph. Auto (=self), trophein (=feeding)

Some organisms do feed on others. We call them heterotroph. Heteros (=others), trophies (=feeding)

the Plastic challenge

you are going to keep track of how much plastic you use in a week. (5 days is enough) 

this can be made in a collage or a photo report

in magister 

Now get to work!

Basic 1

Make exercise: 1,2,3,4